Word Formation Worksheet
3rd Wortahn
Identify the type of word formation in each example.
Names:
____
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_ Date: 10th March 2026
______.
Instructions
• Read each example and decide which type of word formation it shows.
• Use these categories: derivation, compounding, conversion, blending, clipping, back-formation.
• Write your answer next to each item. In Part D, also identify the base word(s) and explain the process briefly.
Part A - Identify the process 1. unhappy (from happy) -> _
2. classroom (from class + room) ->_
3. to email (from the noun email) ->_
4. brunch (from breakfast + lunch) H»_
5. exam (from examination) ->_
6. edit (from editor) ->_
7. teacher (from teach) ->_
8. blackboard (from black + board) -»_
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9. to bottle (from the noun bottle) ->_
10. smog (from smoke + fog) _
11. lab (from laboratory) ->_
12. donate (from donation) -»_
13. well-known ->_
14. blog (originally from web log) ->_
15. fridge (from refrigerator) ->_
16. to clean (from the adjective ciean) ->_
17. kindness (from kind) ->_
18. post office ->_
19. ad (from advertisement)
20. self-control ->_
21. burgle (from burglar)
22. sunflower ->_
23. impossible (from possible) ->_
24. to water (from the noun water) ->
25. mote! (from motor + hotel) ->_
26. flu (from influenza) ->_
27. babysit (from babysitter) ->
28. notebook ->_
Part B - Look carefully: similar but different 29. purchase _
30. televise (from television) ->
31. phone (from telephone) -> _
32. snowball (noun) ->_
33. to snowball (verb from the noun snowball) ->
34. worker (from work) _^__
35. sitcom (from situational comedy) -> .
36. to host (verb from the noun host) ->
37. illegal (from legal) ->_
38. bike (from bicycle) ->_
Part C - Match the word with the explanation
Write the correct letter (A-J) next to each word. Words
39.teacher ->_
40. breakfast + lunch -> brunch -> ,
41. bike (from bicycle) ->_
42. to google (from Google) ->_
43. editor -> edit ->_
44. toothpaste ->_
45. illegal ->_
46. sci-fi ->_
47. mother-in-law ->
48. dishonest ->
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Explanations
A. a new word is made by adding an affix
B. two complete words are joined together
C. a noun becomes a verb without changing its form
D. a shorter form of a longer word
E. a new word is made by removing a real or imagined affix
F. a word made from parts of two words
G. a compound written with hyphens
H. a word formed with a negative prefix
I. a derived noun referring to a person J. a lexical item that should be treated carefully because it does not clearly fit the basic classroom categories